We are delighted to announce that Development Studies PhD candidate Matthew Mahmoudi has been awarded the ISA Human Rights Section Best Paper Award for the 2020 ISA paper "Open Source Investigations and the Technology-Driven Knowledge Controversy in Human Rights Fact-Finding” This was formally announced today during the ISA Human Rights Section annual business meeting.
The committee, chaired by Rebecca Sanders, and assisted by Mark Berlin and Danielle Chubb found the paper highly impressive for a number of reasons noted in their official citation below:
"McPherson, Guenette Thornton, and Mahmoudi analyze the implications of new information technologies, which have vastly expanded the capacity of individuals to identify, monitor, and publicize human rights violations. They argue that this democratization of human rights fact finding generates “knowledge controversy” whereby “new actors bring with them not only new data and new methods, but also new norms about what human rights knowledge should be.” Their paper offers a comprehensive exploration of the theoretical, epistemological, and practical dilemmas posed by these developments, contributing fresh questions and insights to the study and practice of international human rights."
The award will be accompanied by a paid one-year membership in ISA and the Human Rights Section.
Matthew has also been invited to submit his paper to The Journal of Human Rights for expedited review and consideration for publication.